6 October

Rachel Barlow Lives Her Very Gifted Dream

by Jon Katz
Rachel Barlow Lives Her Dream
Rachel Barlow Lives Her Dream

Rachel Barlow has a powerful dream: to live a creative life, to make her living as a writer, blogger and artist. She is doing it, she is just about there. She has worked so long and so hard, but she is living her dream, and in a most brilliant, admirable and inspiring way.

She lives in Vermont with her husband Chris, an actor and her two sons. Her work is being shown at this weekend’s Open House.

I’ve known Rachel for five years, she has been a student of mine for each of those years.

She took my blogging class, my writing class (twice,) she is taking my short story class. I have never had a more open, committed,  or rewarding student.

Rachel has written openly and honestly about her struggles with depression and bi-polar disorder,  it has never stopped her. She goes her own way, makes up her own mind. But she is learning and listening every moment, and I find her one of the most gifted and inspiring creatives I have known, one of the most unusual students. Please visit her amazing website and see for yourself. Rachel gives the lie to the idea that we cannot live our lives and follow our bliss.

Ever day, she writes, she sketches, she makes funny magnets, she writes short stories and cartoons, she figures out the new technical challenges of selling one’s work online. She is always figuring out how to market her work, what to charge, what to write or sketch. In the cold and dark days, she gets depressed, she never quits, she never stops. She can’t, she says, I always tell her that’s how it’s obvious she is an artist. On those very few days when she can hardly get up in the morning, she keeps making her very touching, beautiful and sometimes hilarious art. Every day.

She never complains or whines or judges, as do so many people with fewer challenges. She just does her work. And works to make it better.

Rachel is always listening, learning, growing, evolving. She is a sweet and generous spirit, a loving mother and wife. She is always willing to help anyone, anytime. I am proud of her, she has come so far and is catching fire. This morning, she brought a van load of her magnets, sketches, cartoons and light water colors to Maria’s studio, her work will be on sale at the Open House this weekend. There is no one I am more excited about or happier to see in the studio than Rachel and her work, she will be here to talk about it.

Maria is very enthusiastic about Rachel’s work, she couldn’t stop talking about it this morning. I bought the top sketch above and put dibs on some buttons. I can’t take credit for Rachel’s evolution as an artist, but I am so proud to have taught her. When I first spoke with her, she had been battered by a series of writing workshops and classes that had convinced her she couldn’t make it. She doesn’t need professors and fine arts programs to tell her what to do, she has figured that out.

Picasso said all children are born artists, the problem is how to remain artists once they grow up. I think you just have to do it and do it, to recognize that for some of us, it is simply not possible to not do it. Rachel is that kind of artist. Good for you, my friend. Please go and visit her website. And If you can, come see her Sunday. She is one of the most remarkable people you will ever get to meet.

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